Disposable box

ABSTRACT

A box having separable flat cleat members adapted to be folded transversely to form an elongated supporting flange and used as a side support for the edge of a shelf member or partition within the box. The box can be in the form of a receptacle for perishable or frangible items or formed into a disposable inexpensive suitcase. In one embodiment an adhesive layer is provided between the juncture of the cleat member and the inside wall of the box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Anne E. Turlrovich 860 Hinman, Evanston, Ill. 60202 [211 App]. No. 751,838 [22] Filed Aug. 12, 1968 [45 1 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [54] DISPOSABLE BOX 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 229/42 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/48 [50] Field of Search 229/42, 15, 27; 220/22; 206/62, 45, 16; 312/350, 351, 345, 259, 260, 261

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,182 11/1885 Wilcox 206/62 652,408 6/1900 Sullivan 312/351X 992,253 5/1911 Richardson 220/22 1,043,048 10/1912 Grochau 220/22X 1,242,534 10/1917 Eaton (206/lndicia) 1,695,463 12/1928 Lipschutz 229/15X 2,644,632 7/1953 Claff (206/Indicia) 2,904,382 9/1959 Mitten... 229/15X 3,027,064 3/1962 Thomas (206/Adhesive) Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-James R. Garret Attorneyl-larbaugh and Thomas ABSTRACT: A box having separable flat cleat members adapted to be folded transversely to form an elongated supporting flange and used as a side support for the edge of a shelf member or partition within the box. The box can be in the form of a receptacle for perishable or frangible items or formed into a disposable inexpensive suitcase. In one embodiment an adhesive layer is provided between the juncture of the cleat member and the inside wall of the box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

mam am-n 3565326 INVENTOR ANNE E, TURKO V/CH A Horn eys BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art a wide variety of means are provided to hold shelves or partitions in spaced relationship within a receptacle or against a sidewall. Vertical metal plates having horizontal central ribs are known for this purpose adapted to fit corresponding grooves in the ends of shelves for storage cabinets. Vertical spacers for shelves are commonly aflixed to the inside walls of boxes. In other forms of boxes there are provided permanently formed wire members having off-sets to receive and support a shelf member. Also detachable metal clips fitting into slotted or recessed side brackets are used for book shelves. By using a number of such brackets spaced along the upright sides a shelf can be placed in a number of positions there along. In still another form of receptacle, boxes for pastry are provided with a plurality of spaced punch-out tongues in the sidewall which engage oppositely bent tongues on an elongated strap support depending upwardly from opposite sides of the shelf.

The objectives of the prior art boxes are to provide positive support for a tray or shelf, means upon which the shelf may readily slide in and out of position in the receptacle, rather permanent internal bracing and compartmentation for the box, and vertical adjustability using metal cleats or flexible strap hangers. Each of the known prior art structures has one or more undesireable characteristics such as the necessity of using bent wire cleats, ribbed metal side supports and grooved edges on the metal shelves, the'requirement of a plurality of metal or punch-out cleats which are'not all in use, and other unused tabs or structures which add to the cost of manufacture and complicate the use.

The instant invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple low cost construction which is readily assembled, easy to adjust for different spaced relationships of the shelves or partitions in a box and sufficiently strong for the intended purpose without being unduly heavy or cumbersome to use. The component parts of the receptacle of this invention can be formed by stamping all parts from a single piece of heavy paper or cardboard along with the side support members all of which components are stored in flat condition. The shelf or partition is selectively folded or creased only at the time of use so that the storage spaces provided are proportioned for the particular objects to be carried therein. Furthermore, the number and arrangement of the shelf supports can be varied to provide the strength necessary for objects of different densities without resort to any metal parts or additional strengthening members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a lightweight, disposable receptacle having separable flat shelves or partitions and selectably foldable wall supports for the shelves which are adapted to engage and hold the shelf along and under opposite edges. In one embodiment the wall supports are separate flat pieces which can be readily creased merely by pinching with the fingers along a pair of fold lines thus forming a supporting flange for the shelf. The receptacle of this invention is particularly adapted for one-time use as in the retail packaging or pastry or as a disposable suitcase of similar article. In one embodiment the support members are adapted to be placed in such a manner along the inside wall of the receptacle to provide greater lateral rigidity for the overall structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is more readily understood by reference to the drawings showing illustrative embodiments wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cross sectioned perspective view showing the relationship of the parts in the assembled receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shelf support before and after creasing;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shelf support showing how the creased flange is formed therein;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled box constructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a shelf brace showing an alternate construction.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in order to more particularly describe the invention-there is shown the box 10 provided with the sidewalls 12 and 14 and the end walls 16 and 18 with the bottom 20 and'the top 22 forming an enclosure or receptacle. The top cover 22 has the flap 24 provided with the aperture 26 near the outer edgeand the side flaps 28 and 30. The top cover 22 is hinged along the top edge of the wall 18 as indicated by the fold line 32. The end wall 16 has the aperture 34 which registers with the aperture 26, in either position of the cover in closed position, that is, with the flap 24 on the inside or outside of the wall 16. Likewise the flaps 28 and 30 can, in the closed position of the cover 22, be inside or outside the sidewalls as desired. The ends of the flaps 28 and 30 are beveled to clear the inside of the box in the closed position. The peg or pin 36 isadapted to be inserted into the apertures 26 and 34 while in registered position to hold the cover down. The pin 36 fits tightly within the apertures to serve as a positive easily used latch for pastry boxes particularly. It is to be understood that the box 10 represents any type of receptacle which may be fabricated as a three-dimensional unit, such as a suitcase or represent a foldable pastry box wherein the side and end walls have interlocking panels such as indicated by the dotted lines 38, as are known in the art.

A pair of identical shelf braces 40 are provided in one embodiment, each having one or more pair of substantial parallel fold lines or creases 42 and 44 intermediate the ends or top and bottom edges 46 and 48, respectively, The fold lines 42 and 44 are spaced from each other a distance sufficient to provide a flange 50 when pinched by the fingers and creased therealong as shown in FIG. 3.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, three lined creases are used to indicate the portion of the shelf support to pinch. In this instance the lines 42 and 44 are creases or indentations in the outer surface of the support 40, while the line 52 is a crease on the inner surface. By placing the slightly weakened fold line on the outer part of the fold to be formed, the formation of a permanent flange 50 is facilitated. Suitable instructions can be printed on the surfaces of the supports for the user to follow. In reference to FIG. 2, the lines 42 and 44 can mere indicia or dotted printed lines and the inner crease or bend 54 can be midway between or placed along the line 44, as desired. This allows for adjustment of the distances between shelves.

The shelf braces 40 can be any length between the top edge 46 and the bottom edge 48 and are of lesser width between the side edges 56 and 58 than the'length of the box 10 so as to fit therein against the inner walls of the opposite sides 12 and 14.

The shelves 60 (FIGS. 1 and 4) used with the receptacle of this invention are preferably plain flat pieces and so dimensioned as to fit in closely spaced or contiguous relationship with the inside surfaces of the walls of the box and be supported at the edges 62 upon the flanges 50. In this position the shelves or partitions 60 are held in spaced substantially parallel position from the bottom 20 dividing the box into compartments 64, 66 and 74.

In the unfolded condition (FIG. 2) the shelf braces 40 are higher than in their folded condition depending on the spacing and number of fold lines 42-44 used to form the flanges 52 therealong. Any excess length at the top edge 46 can be folded or bent under the cover 22 and, any excess length at the bottom can be folded or allowed to be against the bottom 20. The imposition of the shelf inside of and against the shelf braces causes pressure against the sidewalls-l2 and 14 at the transverse point 70 along the sides of the box. This in turn pulls the end walls 16 and 18 against the edges or ends 72 of the shelf 60 so that a snug weight-supporting structure is formed. The

flanges 50 are formed wide enough so that any flexure of the shelf due to weight thereon, such as the article 75, does not pull the edges inwardly far enough to slip off of the flanges. Similarly the provision of slight excess lengths, top and bottom, in the shelf braces prevents them from gradually assuming their original planar configuration, due to inherent elasticity or elastic memory of the material.

From the description thus far it is apparent that in order to use the receptacle of this invention for a plurality of items 75 it is only necessary to fill the bottom space 74, pinch the shelf braces 40 along any desired height from the bottom edge 48 or at the bottommost fold lines, place the folded braces against the opposite walls 12 and 14 and place a shelf 60 on the flanges 50 and finally fill the next tier or space 66 with additional items 75. If a second shelf is required the topmost fold lines are used, a shelf 60 is placed thereon and smaller items are accommodated. The items 75 can represent bakery goods for purposes of illustration. In the event the receptacle of this invention is used for heavier items, additional shelf braces can be used at the ends 16 and 18 of the box, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. Alternatively, a shelf brace 40 can be used at either end to provide a three-point suspension. The shelf braces used at the ends 16 and 18 can be of lesser width than those used at the sides of the box Once the lower compartment 74 is filled and the lower shelf in place the formation of the flange 50 to receive the second or topmost shelf can be accomplished within the box using any indicia or fold lines 42- 44 that are at the level of or slightly above the item within the space 72.

In another embodiment of this invention the receptacle can be provided with a handle 76 on 'the. end 16 for use as a disposable suitcase or overnight bag. Alternately, the handle 76 can be on the top surface of the cover 22.

In another embodiment of this invention the shelf braces 40 are provided with a layer or band of pressure sensitive adhesive 80 on each side of the fold lines 42 and 44 which may be provided with a protective paper cover strip 82 having a tab 84 for easy engagement for removing the strip. The adhesive holds the shelf braces to the inside of the walls of the box as shown in FIG. 1, forming multiple rigid braces therein. Also, the use of the adhesive facilitates the progressive formation of the flanges 50 when the braces or supports are creased while within the box. By placing the box with the side to which a brace is to be placed resting on a flat surface both the flange formation and the placement of the brace in the proper position are facilitated. Alternately the adhesive bands can be used only at the top and bottom edges of the braces or at the intermediate section between the pairs of guide lines 42 and The placement of the guide lines 42 and 44 can be such that the top spacing from the edge 46 is less than the bottom spacing from the edge 48 so that by using the pair of braces in the same relative positions either the space 74 or the space 64 can be the larger or have the greater vertical height. Altemately, areas of pressure sensitive adhesive may be provided on the opposed inner surfaces of the flanges 50 so that when they are pressed together, as shown in FIG. 3, the resulting flange is riblike.

While this invention has been described fully and completely with special emphasis upon certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising:

a walled container having opposed horizontally spaced vertical sidewalls and a bottom wall;

a pair of yieldable shelf support members within said container each having outer faces contiguous to an opposite sidewall and having their bottom edges supported upon said bottom wall;

said support members each comprising a sheet of folded material provided with a series of substantially parallel s ace d fold lines substantially horizontall thereacross', sat series of fold ltnes bemgm groups of t ree and including a center fold line creased on the side toward said sidewall and a fold line above and below said center fold line creased on the side away from said sidewall wherein each group of three fold lines forms a horizontal support ledge extending inwardly from one of said vertical sidewalls;

and with the support ledges of one support member being directed toward corresponding ones of the support ledges of the other support member in horizontally related pairs;

said wall engaging portions of said support members being provided with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and a flexible removable protective sheet covering said layer;

a separable flat shelf member supported at opposite edges upon a pair of said opposite lateral horizontal ledges, the horizontal distance between the inside of said vertical sidewalls being less than the width of said shelf member whereby the opposite shelf support members are biased inwardly against said side edges of said shelf.

2. A receptacle in accordance with claim I in which said removable protective flexible sheet is provided with a tab extending at one end adapted to be used in removing said sheet to expose said adhesive layer. 

1. A receptacle comprising: a walled container having opposed horizontally spaced vertical sidewalls and a bottom wall; a pair of yieldable shelf support members within said container each having outer faces contiguous to an opposite sidewall and having their bottom edges supported upon said bottom wall; said support members each comprising a sheet of folded material provided with a series of substantially parallel spaced fold lines substantially horizontally thereacross; said series of fold lines being in groups of three and including a center fold line creased on the side toward said sidewall and a fold line above and below said center fold line creased on the side away from said sidewall wherein each group of three fold lines forms a horizontal support ledge extending inwardly from one of said vertical sidewalls; and with the support ledges of one support member being directed toward corresponding ones of the support ledges of the other support member in horizontally related pairs; said wall engaging portions of said support members being provided with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and a flexible removable protective sheet covering said layer; a separable flat shelf member supported at opposite edges upon a pair of said opposite lateral horizontal ledges, the horizontal distance between the inside of said vertical sidewalls being less than the width of said shelf member whereby the opposite shelf support members are biased inwardly against said side edges of said shelf.
 2. A receptacle in accordance with claim 1 in which said removable protective flexible sheet is provided with a tab extending at one end adapted to be used in removing said sheet to expose said adhesive layer. 